Abstract
An iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) can be used to conveniently apply prestress strengthening via a heating and cooling procedure. Material-level tests demonstrated that prestress of Fe-SMAs is sensitive to mechanical and thermal loading. Durability of steel structures strengthened by Fe-SMAs when subjected to harsh service conditions, such as coupled thermomechanical cycles is not fully understood. In this study, high-cycle fatigue tests were conducted on damaged steel plates retrofitted with Fe-SMA strips. Four temperature scenarios were adopted: room temperature (RT), a low temperature (LT) of −20°C, a high temperature (HT) of 60°C, and a cyclic temperature (CT) from −20°C to 60°C. Results showed that regardless of temperature variation, the Fe-SMA presented reliable repairing effects on steel plates, of which, the fatigue life was 2.1–3.5 times larger than that of the unstrengthened samples. The difference in coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) between the Fe-SMA and steel, as well as loss of prestress of the Fe-SMA due to fatigue and thermal loading, both affected the fatigue performance of the retrofitted specimens.
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